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Return to Reasonable Responses

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As the United States sends additional forces to the Middle East to put on a show of force against the Iraqi government, the Iraqi public isn't totally buying into the belief that the cause of their woes is their leader, President Saddam Hussein. To them, it is the U.S. who supported an embargo on Iraq after the Persian Gulf War. What message is the U.S. sending to the people who might have the opportunity and reason to correct the problems in the country when the very actions are perceived to do the greatest amount of harm to the Iraqis turning these citizens into supporters? Despite widespread problems in Iraqi society with Hussein's tactics, the U.S. is still considered the primary villain in the region.

A further problem with the peace process is that many Palestinians see Saddam Hussein as someone who can champion their cause. At many Palestinian rallies, pictures of Saddam Hussein are placed in prominent locations alongside those of Palestinian Chairman Yasir Arafat. It would appear that many of these Palestinians have reasoned that Saddam Hussein could get them a better deal vis-à-vis the Israelis than anyone else. Apparently, these same Palestinians forget that Saddam Hussein did very little to assist the Palestinians in the past. The Iraqi leader spoke of setting Israel alight with his missiles and even launched a great number at Israel, causing damage to many locations. But these acts did very little to change the course of the peace process. Its result may have been to strengthen the ties between Israel and the U.S. as well as among the Arab nations against Iraq.

What will it take to make Palestinians believe the peace process will work for their benefit? How can Israel secure a peace that includes security? Is it just fantasy to believe that Israel can depend upon the assistance of the U.S. and other Arab countries for its security? Israel faces long-term changes in its society as it enters its second half century of existence. The initial notions of a frontier/settler nation has given way to a commercialized, economic power in the region with continued social and economic growing pains as it continues to absorb immigrants from all over the world. These new immigrants are also extremely vocal and are voting in heavy numbers. It's been estimated that these immigrants have been the swing votes in the last two elections in Israel, first voting to keep Labor as the ruling party, then casting their votes for Likud, who many saw as a champion of their rights to better housing and jobs.

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